A Descriptive Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding Suctioning Techniques among the Staff Nurses

Abstract

Background: Maintaining a patent airway is vital to life. Coughing is the main mechanism for clearing the airway_. Suctioning is a procedure done in order to assist in the removal of bronchial secretions that cannot be expectorated by the patient spontaneously. The suction is used to remove fluids from the airways, to facilitate breathing and prevent growth of microorganisms.

Statement of the Problem: A descriptive study to assess the knowledge regarding suctioning techniques among the staff nurses working in selected hospitals of Mangaluru.

Objectives of the Study: The objectives of this study were to:

• assess the knowledge regarding suctioning techniques among staff nurses.
•  find the association between knowledge score and selected demographic variables

Method: A quantitative research approach with non experimental descriptive design was adopted to assess knowledge of staff nurses regarding suctioning techniques at selected hospitals of Mangaluru.   

Content validity of the tool was established in consultation with 6 experts. The reliability of the tool was found to be r (10) =0.733 which was statistically significant. The tool was found to be reliable.

Non probability convenient sampling was used to select the subjects for the study. Pilot study was conducted to find out the feasibility of the study. Data collected from the subjects were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The sample size was 100.

Significant findings of the study:

• The findings of the study demonstrated that among 100 staff nurses, that maximum percentage (51%) were belongs to the age group of 21-25 years, majority (93%) of staff nurses were females (93%), most (56%) of staff nurses had academic qualification of BSc Nursing, maximum number of subjects (72%) had professional experience of 1-5-year experience, most of subjects (62%) didn't had other source of information
• The mean percentage of knowledge score was 53.43.
• There was significant association between knowledge and previous information (χ2= 5.09, table value χ2= 3.84) andsources (χ2= 23.36, table value χ2= 7.8147)
• There was no association between knowledge and other demographic variables.

Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed that the staff nurses had average level of knowledge on suctioning techniques and there was significant association between knowledge and previous information and sources.